It is grilling season, so it’s time to whip up my secret weapon. I have been adapting and changing this recipe for so many years that I don’t remember what I originally started with. All I remember is that I had a half used can of tomato paste in the fridge I was trying to get rid of, and this recipe was somehow born. I love that it has no sugar, but still tastes sweet and has this great spicy kick that goes well with just about any meat. I also really love the base of nourishing bone broth, which you can never have too much of. Tonight we’re grilling bone-in pork ribs from our local farmer with some cornbread. Mmmm, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!

Heat butter/oil in sauce pan and sauté onion for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add all remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. You can serve it just like this, but I like to boil it down to thicken it a while. I turn down the heat, cover the pan and let it simmer for 20 minutes or so. I also find the longer cooking time melds the flavors, and it turns out even more delicious.

I have used this sauce on every cut of pork, beef and chicken that I can think of. It is a great marinade, basting sauce, oven baking glaze and dipping sauce. If you are feeding young kids or someone who doesn’t like spicy food you may want to add the chili powder a little bit at a time and taste as you go.

If you want to make this even healthier, you could let it cool and add 2 tbsp of whey and leave it on the counter over night. Then you would have a sugar-free probiotic condiment.

This keeps for 3 weeks in the fridge, and also freezes very well. If you eat as much meat as we do, it won’t last you that long :)

A. Dephue said,

Gerry Earl said,

I’m soo excited about this recipe! I was just googling sugar free bbq sauce, and this one site had 6 recipes that ALL HAD MORE SUGAR IN THEM THEN THE STUFF IN THE STORES!!! lol!!! Anyways, pinned it and posted it to FB already!!!! Going to make this soon! : ) Thanks for help keeping me abstinent from sugar and flour!!! : )

Teddynola (terri), it’s a shame that you didn’t like it. I don’t know what you’re comparing it too, however. We eat very little sugar in our house, and most store-bought barbeque sauce is very sweet. I tasted some store-bought barbeque sauce at a friends house last weekend and couldn’t eat it, it was so sugary. I like the spicy, tangy tomato flavor of this homemade recipe. Keep trying and experimenting, I’m sure you’ll come up with a recipe that you do like. To each his own right? Let us know what you come up with. BTW, if you try a recipe and leave out ingredients when you make it, you’re not really trying the recipe.

You’re so sweet and diplomatic. That person’s comment was just rude. It would be one thing if they gave specifics of what they felt were wrong. However when all they do is insult it without offering any reasoning or constructive alterations then it’s as bad as trolling.